Saturday, February 12, 2005

Cohen's Southern Strategy

Former Maine Senator and Secretary of Defense William Cohen is now employing the considerable lobbying skills he once used to keep Maine's military bases open to advocate for Florida's 21 bases. The Sun Journal has the story (registration or BugMeNot required).

Leaders in the efforts to save Maine's bases say they are unsure what effect the high-paid lobbyists, including Cohen, will have.

"We wish he were working with us," said Richard Tetrev, who leads the task force that is trying to preserve Brunswick Naval Air Station.

Why isn't he here?

"His price tag is very, very high," said retired Navy Capt. William McDonough, who is working on the effort to preserve Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. "We couldn't afford him."

Is BNAS really as vulnerable as Portsmouth and BIW? If any of these three is closed, it would be devastating. I too live in "earshot" (unfortunately) of BNAS, and BNAS consumers and employees (many of the people on the base have second jobs) are very noticeable in Brunswick and nearby.

So what is the purpose of the obscene amounts of money we spend on defence? Is it all about welfare for white male mechanics or is it about political favoritism? It amazes me how Maine's politicians, esepecially the liberals, struggle to politically prop up the 19th and early 20th century economy.